Fine-fuel-feeding apparatus.



G. L. SWIFT. FINE FUEL FEEDING APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED MAR.14, 1907.

' G. L. SWIFT. FINE FUEL FEEDING APPARATUS. APPLICATION HLED MAR.14, 1907.

Patented Feb. 21; 1911.

um T B E H H T E E H S 2 5 1i r GEORGE L. SWIFT, 0F CHICAGQ ILLINOIS.

FFTCE. I

rmn-runn-rnnnme APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 14, 1907. Serial No. 362,244.

To all whom it may concern: 7

Be it known that I, GEORGE L. SWIFT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, inthe .county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fine-Fuel-Feeding Apparatus, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact specification. v

This invention relates to improvements in fine fuel feeding apparatus, and the primary object of the'invention is toprovide an improved device of this character which will intermittently feed a small quantity of fuel.

A further object is to provide an improved device of this character, which will alternately discharge the fuel first to one side and then to the other to equally distribute the same to the fire.

A further object is to provide an improved device of this character, which will be simple and efficient, and which may be adjusted to regulate the feed of the fuel.

' To the attainment of these ends andthe accomplishment of other new and useful objects, as will appear, the invention consists in the features of novelty in the construction, combination and arrangement of the various features hereinafter more fully described and claimed, and shown in the accompanying drawings illustrating an exemplification of the invention, and in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of the machine constructed in accordance with the principles'of this invention; Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional View of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a front elevation of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a detail elevation of one of the distributing blades; Fig. 5 is a view looking at the lower edge of Fig. 4;. Fig. 6 is a detail sectional view on line 6-6 of Fig. 2.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, and in which the same reference numerals designate similar parts throughout the several views, the numeral 10 designates a suitable hopper in which the fuel is placed. This hopper is preferably provided with a delivery opening, and an inclined bottom 11,

which latter projects slightly beyond the delivery opening, and terminates in a corrugated front, edge, as at 12, which extends into the induction door or opening in the furnace when the hopper is supported in ..p,osition.

Secured to the sides of the hopper,preferably 0n suitable projections or bosses 13, and

by one end, arearms or brackets 14. These and journaled in these arms or brackets, and

Patented Feb. 21, 1911.

across the opening in the hopper, is ashaft 15, secured to the ends of which, and preferably adjacent the inner faces of the side walls of the hopper, are disks or heads which extend into the hopper. Pivotally supported by and between the disks or heads 16, adjacent the peripheries thereof and arranged parallel with each other and the shaft 15,

are members 17 secured to which, in any suitable manner, are blades or members 18.

The body portions of these blades or mem-' bers 18 are provided with apertures or perforations 18 and their lower edges are split as at 18 to form a series of wings 18 throughout their length. The ends or sides of these wings are bent or deflected so as to twist the portion of the blades or members between the notches to the position as shown more clearly in Fig. '5 of the drawings, to extend transversely of the body portion 18 and in an oblique position to form spaced parallel wings; the wings on each alternate blade being disposed in the opposite direction, as shown more clearly in Fig. 2 of the drawing, for a purpose to be set forth. By pivotally mounting the blades upon their supports, it will be apparent that they will yield sufficiently, should they strike any hard substance in the coal, to permit the edges of the blades topass over such substance, and after passing, the centrifugal force will cause the blades to assume a proper position with respect to the other blades. As the shaft and heads 16 rotate, the cen trifugal motion will cause the free ends of the blades or members to assume a position in a direct line with their point of pivotal support and the shaft'15, so that the winged edge will engage and scrape against the bottom 11. Obviously the members 17 and the wings or blades 18 may be formed integral if desired.

Within the hopper, and just above the point of the extreme movement of the blades or members 18, is a fuel support 19, which extends across the hopper and is spaced from the bottom 11, so as to-pennit thefuel to pass between the edge thereof and the base 11, and into position to be engaged by the blades-or members 18, in a manner to be set adjacent the discharge or delivery open- 'mg, is an agitator plate 20. This plate is preferably pivoted adjacent the rear side of the hopper, and extends from a point.

which a suitable headed screw or bolt 25 passes and engages the wall of the hopper.

. This arm or lever is adapted to be moved about its pivot 23 and clamped or held in its adjusted position by means of the screw or bolt 25, as-will be understood.

Removably. 4 clamped or secured to the pivot 26 of the agitator plate 20, adjacent the outer face of the side of the hopper to which the arm or lever 22 is pivoted, is one end of" a bar or member 27, the free end of which preferably extends or projects beyond the front wall of the hopper and engages and rests upon a laterally projecting lug or pin 28 on the arm or lever 22. A similar bar or member 29 is clamped or secured to the pivot 30 of the deflector plate 21, the free end of which extends toward and rests upon the bar or member 27, preferably at a point intermediate the point of its engagement with the pivot 26 of the agitator plate and the lug 28 on the arm or lever 22. If desired, a suitable anti-friction roller 31 may be mounted upon the extremity of the bar or member 29 to reduce the friction at this point. Thus it will be seen that whenthe lever or arm 22 is clamped in position so that the end of the bar or member 27 rests upon the lug or projection 28, the plates 20-21 will be directed toward each other and held in position, with the opening between the free extremities, at a point above the support 19,

so that when anything fine is placed in the hopper, these plates will direct the same through the space between them and on to the support 19. This opening may be varied by loosening the nut or bolt 25 and moving the arm or lever 22 about its pivot 23, the lug or pin 28 thus raising or lowering the bar or member 27 to rock the plate 20, and said bar or member 27 will rock the plate 21 through the medium of the engaging bar or member 29. When the plates 20 and 21 have assumed the desired relative position, they may be retained in such position by tightening the bolt or screw 25.

Mounted upon a suitable journal 32 on the same side of the hopper is a belt wheel or pulley 33, which is preferably located be-- yond the lever or arm 22 and the bars or members 2729; and projecting from theinner side of this wheel or pulley 33 is a pin or lateral extension 34. This pin or extension is of such a length and is so located that when the wheel or pulley 33 is rotated, it will engage the bar or member 27 and raise the end thereof off of the lug or projection 28, to simultaneously rock the plates 20-21 about their respective pivots toward each other, and as it passes out of engagement with the bar or .member 27, the latter will again drop upon the pin or projection 28 to permit the free ends of the plates to move away from each other. The movements of these plates depend upon the rapidity of rotation of the pulley or wheel 33.

Secured to the extremity of the shaft 15, preferably adjacent the pulley. or wheel 33, is a belt pulley 35. The pulley or wheel 33 and the shaft 15 are simultaneously rotated in any suitable manner, such as by means of a driving belt 36, which passes around the pulley 3,5 and engages the pulley or wheel 33. If desired, the portion 37 of the front of the hopper may 'be pivotally supported by its upper end, as at 38, in order that access may be had to the hopper through the front.

In operation, the plates 2021 are adjusted with respect to each other by means of the handle or lever 22, in the manner set forth, and the pulleys 3335 rotated by the belt36. The fuel is placed in the hopper and upon the plates 20'2l in any desired manner. As the pulley 33 rotates, the pin or projection 34.- engages the bar or member 27, causing the latter to be raised and lowered. This movement will cause the plates to vibrate, moving toward and away from each other. The plate 20 serves as an agitator to force the fuel which drops through the openingbetween the plates and on to the support, oil of the upport and against. the inclined bottom 11 of the hopper, from where it passes intoa position to be engaged by the blades or members 18. These blades or members will drag or shove the fuel forward until it reaches the projecting corrugated end 12 of the bottom of the hopper. The blades or members being pivotally mounted by one edge, will be thrown out by centrifugal motion, and as the free end comes in contact with the fuel, the centrifugal motion will be slightly overcome, causing the blades to turn about their pivot as the material passes between the corrugated end 12 and the shaft 15, but as it reaches the extremity of the end 12, the blade will be thrown out by the centrifugal motlon just as the fuel is about to fall, and will toss or throw the fuel ontothe fire, instead of scraping it off of the bottom of the hopper and allowing it to drop directly upon the fire. When the apparatus is in spect to the sweep of the blades and consequently does not yield under the pressure of the blades, the advantage of this ,arrangement is that the feeding action on the fuel is accomplished by the full centrifugal force of the revolving blades and is dependent upon the speed of rotation, while at the same time a clear path of movement for the revolving blades is rovidedr whichis concentric'with the axis of their revolution.

This in practice isfound to be a most advantageous feature and secures a most eiiicient fuel feeding action. The perforations 18 in the blades or members 18 serve to prevent a suction upon the fire during their centrifugal motion. The fuel which passes ofi of the concaved portion of the end of the hopper bottom will be thrown into the furnace in a plane lower than the portion which is carried farther forward, and thrown from the convex portion, thereby preventing the fuel from being thrown upon the fire at the same place and more evenly distributing thefuel. The deflected portion or wings 18 on one of the blades or members 18 will throw or deflect the fuel laterally toward the sides of the furnace, and as the wings on the alternate blades are disposed in opposite directions, the fuel will be alternately deflected first to one side and then to the other. These wings cooperatin with the corrugated end 12 serve to uni ormly distribute the fuel over the entire fire,.which will prevent a great accumulation at any one point. When desired, the machine may be readily changed from a right to a lefthand machine, by placing the bars or members 27-29 on the other ends of the pivots .of their respective plates 20-21, and providing suitable journals or support-s 404:1 respectively, for the handle or lever 22 and the pulley An improved machine of this character may be so constructed as. to accommodate the same to the difierent sizes of grates, that is, the distance to which the fuel must be thrown varies according to the different size grates, and this may be accomplished by varying the position of the front edge 12 of the bottom 11. The higher theedge 12 is located with relation to the shaft 15, the farther the fuel will be thrown onto the grate. The distance the fuel is thrown may also be regulated by the speed of rotation of the blades or members 18.

In order that ,the invention might be fully understood by those skilled in the art, the details of the foregoing embodiment thereof have been thus specifically described, but

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters-Patent is,:--

1. A. device of the class described, contaming a fuel hopper having a delivery opening, plates pivotally supported within the hopper, a member operatively related to each of the plates for moving said plates,

one of the members engaging the'other member intermediate theends of the latter,

and means adapted to engage one of said members beyond the point of engagement of the other member therewith for moving both of the members to simultaneously oscillate the plates.

2. A device of the class described containing a hopper for the fuel, having a delivery opening, plates pivotally supported Within the hopper, operative connections between the plates, means adapted to intermittently engage one of the connections for moving the other connection to simultaneously oscillate the plates, and means for limiting the movement of the plates in one direction.

3. A device of. the class described containing a hopper for the fuel, having a delivery opening, plates pivotally supported within the hopper, operative connections between the plates, means adapted to intermittently engage one of the connections for moving the other connection to simultaneously oscillate the plates, and means for ad.-

justing said plates with relation to each other.

4:. A device of the class described containing a hopper for the fuel, having a deliver opening, plates pivotally supported within the hopper, operative connections between the plates, means adapted to intermittently engage one of the connections for moving the other connection to simultaneously oscillate the plates, and an adjustable stop adapted to be engaged by one of the connections for varying the position of the plates with relation to each other and to limit the movement of the plates in one direction.

5. In a device of the class described, the combination of a hopper for containingthe fuel, having a discharge opening, plates pivotally supported within the hopper, an arm connected to one of the plates outside of the hopper, an' adjustable stop for supporting the free end of the arm, an arm connected to the other plate, the free end of said arm having a sliding contact with the first said arm, and means adapted to intermittently engage and move the first arm for simultaneously oscillating both of the plates about their pivots to feed the material to the discharge opening.

6. In a device of the class described, the combination of a hopper for containing the fuel, having a. discharge opening, plates pivotally supported within the hopper, an arm connected to one of the plates outside of the having a sliding contact with the first said arm, a rotary member supported by the hopper, and a projection on said member adapted to intermittently engage and move the first arm when said member is rotated, for simultaneously moving both arms to oscillate both of said plates about their pivots.

7.- In a device of the class described, the combination of a hopper for containing the fuel, having a discharge opening, plates pivotally supported within the hopper and inclined toward each other, a handle or lever adjustably supported by the hopper, a bar or member connected to one of the plates, a projection on the handle'or lever adapted to be engaged by the free end of the bar or member for supporting the latter, a bar .or member connected to the other plate, the

freeendthereof having a sliding connection with and being supported by the first bar or member, means for securing the handle orlever in its adjusted position for varying theposition of the plates with relation to eachother, a rotating member supported by the hopper, and a projection on said ro- -tating member adapted to engage and raise the first bar or member to move the second bar or member for simultaneously oscillating the plates about their pivots. 30.

V combination of a hopper for containing the ,8. In a device of the class described, the

fuel, having a discharge opening, pivoted plates within'the hopper and inclined toward each other, a fuel support disposed between the ends of the plates adjacent the opening. therebetween and the discharge opening of the hopper, means for simultaneously oscillating the plates for delivering the fuel to the support and feeding the same to the discharge opening, and means for forcing the fuel through the discharge open- 1n 9. In a device of the class described, the combination of a hopper for containing the fuel, having a discharge opening, pivoted plates within. the hopper and inclined toward each other, a fuel support disposed be tween the ends of the plates adjacent the opening therebetween and the discharge opening of the hopper, a member operatively related to each blade, one of the members engaging the other intermediate the endsof the latter, means adapted to engage the said other member for simultaneously oscillating the plates for delivering the fuel to the support and feeding the same to the discharge opening, means for forcing the fuel through the discharge opening, said hopper being provided with an opening adjacent the support, and a closure for the opening. I

10. A device of the class described containing a hopper for the fuel, said hopper having a delivery opening, a member arranged Within the hopper to revolve, and located adjacent the delivery' opening, a plurality of blades pivotally, supported upon said revoluble member, a bottom for the hopper, said bottom during the operation of the apparatus being fixed in unyielding relation to the path of the blades and having a curved portion substantially concentric with the path of the outenportio-ns of the blades, and terminating in a horizontal delivery edge past which the blades operate, and means for revolving said blade supporting member. a V

11. In a device of the class described, a hopper having a horizontally extending discharge opening, a distributer shaft journaled in the hopper and in parallel relation with respect to said opening, a plurality of fuel, distributer blades pivotally supported by said shaft, said hopper having a bottom portion in unyielding relation and curved to substantially concentric relation with respect to the path of the outer surface of the distributer blades and terminating in an upturned horizontal edge forming the delivery edge of the hopper, over and from which the blades discharge thefuel directly into the hopper having a horizontally extending discharge opening, and a fixed unyielding curved bottom portion terminating in an. upturned horizontal edge, a plurality of centrifugally-operated pivotally mounted distributer blades, arranged in said'hopper and cooperating with said curved bottom and horizontal edge to engage the fuel and discharge the same over and. from said edge directly into the furnace chamber, and means for operating said distributer blades.

13.'In a device of the class described, a hopper having a discharge opening and a bottom portion-terminating in a horizontal edge forming the delivery edge of the hopper discharge opening, said horizontal edge being transversely corrugated, means for feeding the fuel to the opening, a plurality of rotatable pivotally-supported blades arranged within the discharge opening and 00- operating with the corrugated delivery edge thereof to discharge the fuel directly into the furnace, and means for rotating said blades.

14. In a device of the class described, a hopper having a horizontally extending discharge opening, and a bottom portion terminating in an unyielding horizontal'ed e said edge forming the delivery edge of said opening, a rotatable member arranged in the hopper and associated with said opening, a plurality of distributer blades pivotally mounted on said rotatable member, the'peripheral surfaces of said blades cooperating with said edge to discharge the fuel therefrom directly into the furnace, and means for rotating said rotatable member, the edge of said bottom portion being shaped to cause the fuel to be discharged from said edge in different horizontal planes.

15. In a device of the class described a hopper having a discharge opening an a bottom portion terminating in a horizontal edge to form the delivery edge of said opening, a rotatable member arranged in the hopper and in parallel relation to said'edge,

I a plurality of distributer blades pivotally mounted on said rotatable member and cooperating with said bottom portion and edge to discharge the fuel from said edge directly into the furnace, said bottom portion being unyielding and curved to concentric relation adjacent said delivery edge, with respect to the path of said distributer blades, and means for rotating member.

' 16. In a deviceof the class described, a hopper having a discharge opening and a i bottom portion terminating in a horizontal edge to form the delivery edge of said opening, a rotatable member arranged in the hopper and in parallel relation to said edge, a plurality of distributer blades pivotally mounted on said rotatable member and cooperating with said bottom portion and edge to discharge the fuel from said edge directly into the furnace, said bottom portion being unyielding and curved to concentric relation,

' adjacent said delivery edge,'with respect to the path of said distributer blades, said blades being disposed with respect to each other to deliver the fuel in diverging directions, and means for rotating said rotatable member.

17. In a device of the class described, a hopper having a discharge opening and a bottom portion terminating in a horizontal edge to form the delivery edge of said opening, a rotatable member arranged in the hopper and in parallel relation tofsaid edge, a plurality of distributer blades pivotally mounted on said rotatable member and cooperatingwith said bottom portion and edge to discharge the fuel therefrom directly into the furnace, said bottom portion being unyielding and curved to concentric relation, adjacent said delivery edge, with respect to the path of said distributer blades, said blades being disposed with respect to each other to deliver the fuel in diverging direc member.

said rotatable said edge, a plurality of distributer blades pivotally mounted on said rotatable member, said blades formed at their outer ends with wings disposed in transverse relation with respect to the body thereof, said unyielding bottom portion being curved to concentric relation with respect to "the path of said blades, and means for rotating said rotatable 19. In a fuel feeding apparatus, a hopper for the fuel, said hopper having a delivery opening, a member arranged Within the hopper to revolve, and located adjacent the delivery opening, a plurality of fuel discharge arms or blades pivotally supported upon said revoluble member, a bottom for the hopper, said bottom being located below the revoluble member andhaving a curved por-- tionsubstantially concentric with the path of the peripheries ofthe fuel discharging arms or blades and terminating in a horizontal delivery edge past which the peripheries of the arms or blades operate, and.

means for revolving said arm or blade supporting member.

20. A device of the class described containing a hopper having a delivery opening, means for feeding the fuel to the opening, a plurality of rotatable blades 'pivotally-supported by one edge and within the opening for forcing the fuel therethrough, and means for rotating the blades, the free edge of each of the blades being split and twisted to form spaced wings transversely disposed with relatilon to thebody portion for deflecting the fue 21. A device of the class described containing a hopper having a delivery opening,

means for feeding the fuel to the opening, a I

split and twisted to form spaced wings trans versely disposed with relation to the body portion, the wings on each alternate blade" being disposed in an opposite direction and adapted to pass over the edge of the bottom of the hopper.

22. A device of the class described containing a hopper for the fuel having a delivery opening, means for feeding the fuel to the opening, a plurality of rotatable blades pivotally-supported by one edge and within the opening for forcing the fuel therethrough, and means for rotating the blades, the free edge of each of the blades being split and the portions of the edge between the splits being deflected beyond both faces thereof to form a plurality of spaced parallel wings extending in an oblique dimotion with relation to and across the body of the blade andadapted to pass over the edge of the bottom of the hopper to deflect the fuel.

23. A device of the class described containing a hopper for the fuel having a delivery opening, means for feeding the fuel to the opening, a plurality of rotatable pivot ally-supported blades within the opening for forcing the fuel therethrough, and means for rotating the blades, the free edge of the blades being split and the portions of the edgebetween the splits being deflected beyond both faces thereof to form spaced par:

' allel wings extending in an oblique direcforcing the fuel therethrough, and means for rotatin the blades, the free edge of the blades eing split and the portions. of the edge between the splits being deflected beyond both faces thereof to form spaced parallel Wings extending in an obliquedirection with relation to and across the body of the blade to deflect the fuel, said blades being provided with perforations above the wings.

" 25. A device of the class, described con-- taining a hop er having a delivery opening the bottom 0 which is provided with an irregular front edge,.means for feeding the fuel to-the opening, a plurality of rotatable pivotally-supported blades within the de, livery opening for forcing the fuel therethrough, obliquely disposed spaced wings operatively related to the free edge of the blades and extending transversely with relation to said edge, said wings cooperating .with the said irregular front edge of the discharge opening to distribute the fuel when the blades are rotated, and means for rotating the blades In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses, on this 27th dav of February A. D. 1907.

GEORGE L. SWIFT Witnesses:

, J. H. JooHUM, Jr., M. W. OANTWELL. 

